http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phelan1e_20050901.htm

I'm not surprised with this article and I love how people on websites like autoweek say the solstice looks ugly. They're scared out of their wits that GM, an American auto maker can make such a beautiful drivers car and sell it at an extremely competitive price. The best they can do is make up ridiculous statements.

"We broke all the rules developing this car," ....

It's about time. For decades, GM's own rules -- risk-analysis calculations that squeezed the emotion out of its cars -- were its worst enemy. It's time to throw the rule book out.



Now if the engineers can do this with the rest of their vehicles the General might just make it back in command.

"We broke all the rules developing this car," ....

It's about time. For decades, GM's own rules -- risk-analysis calculations that squeezed the emotion out of its cars -- were its worst enemy. It's time to throw the rule book out.
Now if the engineers can do this with the rest of their vehicles the General might just make it back in command.

[post="7755"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Amen brother!

Yes, the Solstice looks good. I'm pretty sure it drives good. I don't think the convertible will provide GM with the sales it needs, though. A lot of people don't buy convertibles because it weighs down the car and they also have no need for it. That's why coupes clearly generate most of Corvette and Mustang sales. I think it will be the coupe that provides most if not all of the volume.

Quote from article: For decades, GM's own rules -- risk-analysis calculations that squeezed the emotion out of its cars -- were its worst enemy. It's time to throw the rule book out.



Never have there been more accurate words said regarding GM and how it has conducted it's business in the last 30 years.

I like how they photographed this great new Pontiac with the vintage Pontiac sign in the background. Nice contrast.

Edited September 1, 200519 yr by HarleyEarl

Great article!!! Now GM needs to apply this logic to ALL of it's programs.

That red is amazing! :wub: This is going to be one sweet car. . . too bad im 6'3 and would look goofy in one of these or else I would be first in the showroom to scoop one of them up. . . .

"We broke all the rules developing this car," ....

It's about time. For decades, GM's own rules -- risk-analysis calculations that squeezed the emotion out of its cars -- were its worst enemy. It's time to throw the rule book out.
Now if the engineers can do this with the rest of their vehicles the General might just make it back in command.

[post="7755"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

It will only be a matter of time until some manager writes a rule about how to break rules and then take credit for it.

If GM wants to impress me with it's "renegade ways", build the Nomad. no back seat, no leather, a basic touring coupe wagon.

My favorite line is this one:

The company that built the 1957 Chevy and the '61 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is back in the business of creating and satisfying desire.

Finally a "creation". Finally something emotional, emotive, worth lusting after, besides a Corvette [and in recent years, some Caddys]. I can't believe we have obsessed over this car for so long on this site, and it's finally gonna come out. It's like breathing a sigh of relief. And it looks and feels more fantastic than ever before. I am so glad the reviews are trumping the goodness of it too. Looks like it's gonna be an amazingly fun car to drive too. It doesn't matter that this isn't high volume; this, as Bob Lutz said, is a rolling advertisement for Pontiac. Just wish that G8 and new GTO were coming in less than three years to really change the brand around.

My favorite line is this one:
Finally a "creation". Finally something emotional, emotive, worth lusting after, besides a Corvette [and in recent years, some Caddys]. I can't believe we have obsessed over this car for so long on this site, and it's finally gonna come out. It's like breathing a sigh of relief. And it looks and feels more fantastic than ever before. I am so glad the reviews are trumping the goodness of it too. Looks like it's gonna be an amazingly fun car to drive too. It doesn't matter that this isn't high volume; this, as Bob Lutz said, is a rolling advertisement for Pontiac. Just wish that G8 and new GTO were coming in less than three years to really change the brand around.

[post="8014"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Nice to see someone mention the '61 Cadillac...much cleaner, more beautiful design than the over-the-top '59, IMHO... the '60s were GM's high point from a styling and design perspective IMHO....so many beautiful cars--the 1st and 2nd generation Rivieras, the Toronado, the '67 Eldorado, the '63-67 Corvettes, the original Camaro and Firebird...the '65-66 B-bodies (Impala, Grand Prix, Bonneville, Wildcat, Starfire, etc)...

The '61 Eldo is easily the least significant & valuable E up to that point since they began in '53. Oh sure, still a great car, but nearly forgotten even within the fans of vintage Cadillac. It was the first year the special Eldorado touches & unique sheetmetal & trim were totally gone. Arguably the low point between '53 and '70. Obviously another wild, in-the-dark stab by a "journalist" far too busy to even try and appear informed. And there are a lot more Eldorados than '59, Moltar.

I'm 6'8" so I know this car was not designed for me. I've read that the windshield header blocks vision for taller drivers. The Miata doesn't have this prob. i suspect that the Solstice has more legroom than the Miata though. I noticed that the Solstice's height is 50.1". Identical in height to my '87 IROC-Z.